CDFW Native Wildlife Rehabilitation Grants

Cleanup, Remediation, and Watershed Enhancement Funding Opportunity is sponsored by Department of Fish and Wildlife. CDFW seeks high quality grant proposals that support the enhancement of watersheds and communities in areas impacted by cannabis cultivation. Grants are provided through the Environmental Restoration and Protection Account pursuant to Revenue and Taxation Code section 34019(f)(2)(A). This funding opportunity focuses on planning, implementation, planning + implementation, and cleanup and remediation projects within California. Proposals to remediate and/or enhance watersheds and communities may include the following: road decommissioning, road crossing upgrades, erosion and sediment delivery prevention actions, culvert upgrades, water conservation, cleanup and remediation of impacts due to illicit cannabis operations on private and qualified public lands, and/or enhancing biodiversity and wildlife habitat within watersheds, among other projects in similar nature. Cleanup and Remediation on Qualified Public Land should focus on the severe impacts of illicit cannabis operations and reduce delivery of contaminants and waste to the environment by removing refuse and infrastructure associated with illegal cannabis cultivation . Projects can include the removal of stream crossings or water diversion infrastructure associated with illegal cannabis cultivation. Activities that may be eligible through this Solicitation under Cleanup and Remediation on Private Land will reduce delivery of environmental contaminants and waste into the watershed by removing refuse and infrastructure associated with illegal cannabis cultivation on private land. Projects can include the removal of stream crossings or water diversion infrastructure associated with illegal cannabis cultivation. Activities that may be eligible through this Solicitation under Road Treatments include, but are not limited to: road upgrading, road decommissioning, culvert and road crossing upgrades, and other sediment prevention delivery actions. Road Treatment projects must be necessary due to cannabis cultivation activities within a watershed. Activities that may be eligible through this Solicitation under Wildlife and Habitat Enhancements include but are not limited to: preventing accidental injury/death; habitat improvements for birds, bats, and pollinators; poisoning prevention with rodenticides, limiting human disturbance to wildlife, minimizing the spread of invasive species, enhancing native habitat, habitat connectivity, and fire resilience. Activities that may be eligible through this Solicitation under Water Conservation include but are not limited to: off-channel water storage, groundwater storage and conjunctive use, irrigation efficiencies, and stream gauges to ensure sufficient flow and water quality prior to water being available for irrigation.

Upland Game Bird Account Grant is sponsored by Department of Fish and Wildlife. The purpose is to ensure funds generated by the sales of upland game bird hunting validations and stamps are used in programs and projects to benefit upland game bird species and their constituents. CDFW may make grants to, reimburse, or enter into contracts or other agreements, as defined in subdivision (a) of Section 1571, with public and private entities, including universities, nonprofit organizations, and California Native American tribes, as defined in Section 21073 of the Public Resources Code, for the use of the funds from the Upland Game Bird Account to carry out the purposes of Fish and Game Code §3684, including related habitat conservation projects. Any proposal fitting the criteria in this statue is qualified to be funded.

Cannabis Research and Innovation Funding Opportunity (RIFO) is sponsored by Department of Fish and Wildlife. CDFW seeks high quality grant proposals that facilitate environmental sustainability of legal cannabis cultivation and addresses environmental impacts related to cannabis cultivation. Grants are provided through the Environmental Restoration and Protection Account pursuant to Revenue and Taxation Code section 34019(f)(2)(A). The California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) Cannabis Restoration Grant Program (CRGP) is seeking Research and Innovation proposals from eligible applicants to evaluate environmental conditions and impacts relative to cannabis cultivation; produce resources for ecological and environmentally sound cultivation practices; facilitate environmental sustainability of legal cannabis cultivation; and overall, address environmental impacts related to cannabis cultivation in California. The Research and Innovation Funding Opportunity (RIFO) focuses on research and innovation across multiple disciplines. Projects may involve environmental research and/or technological innovation and may be qualitative and/or quantitative in scope. Project proposals may focus on species and habitats, particularly Species of Greatest Conservation Need and Sensitive Natural Communities, and approaches for mitigating potentially adverse impacts of cannabis cultivation and related activities. All qualified eligible applicants are encouraged to submit environmental research and/or technological innovation proposals. RIFO proposals may include one or more of the following Project Types as they relate to cannabis cultivation: water use, land management, native species, social dimensions and community engagement, and technological innovations. Proposals should focus on the following objectives: 1) Improve the collective understanding of how cannabis cultivation influences the environment. 2) Provide actionable solutions for mitigating adverse impacts of cannabis cultivation and related activities on the environment. 3) Address factors that support ecological or environmentally sound cultivation practices. 4) Contribute to the conservation of California’s fish, wildlife, and the habitats upon which they depend.